<<Print>>

Ghanaians traditionally are mournful and very sympathetic at the death of one of them, in fact any human being. They venerate the dead and hence strongly abhor the celebration of the death of even an enemy, in the believe that their lives are in the hands of God and that anybody � young or old, strong or sick � could be called to eternity at any time. However politics seems to be eroding this humane and civilized sentiment. Indeed, political watchers have said the opposition party apart from its free senior secondary school education promise and the Woyome debacle, has no other message for the electorates, therefore, will want to make capital of President John Mills� health in the run-up to the election. But 'The Herald'�s observation is revealing a bizarre occurrence, albeit punitive, in that anytime deliberate rumours by people in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are peddled that President Mills is dead, a notable personality from among the NPP rather kicks the bucket. In 2008, false rumours about the death of the then candidate Mills in South Africa, was greeted with great jubilation by elements of the NPP at home. And to their dismay, a healthy Mills was met at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) by officials and supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Not long after that, death laid its icy hands on a rather affable Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akyem North and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, a much younger person. He was undergoing medical treatment in South Africa, where Prof. Mills was reported to have died. Prof. Mills miraculously lived on and became president of Ghana by beating the over-confident Nana Akufo-Addo, with a slim margin of votes. After his inauguration as Ghana�s third President of the Fourth Republic, the death wish for JEA Mills, who returns home today from a medical checkup in United State of America, persisted in earnest to the extent that people in Kumasi greeted each other by saying �Odi ye aa na owuye�. Literally meaning Mills had assumed the presidency only to die. As the shameful greetings were ongoing, another affable NPP stalwart, Major (rtd) Courage Quashigah, who was credited with transforming the agric and health sectors, where he served as a minister in the John Kufuor administration, unexpectedly passed away sadly in Israel. Subsequently to that, other stalwarts like Madam Theresa Amerley Tagoe, former (MP) for Ablekuma South and former Deputy Regional Minister for Greater Accra also suddenly left us. Prior to Madam Tagoe�s death, the God-fearing NPP MP for Effiduase/Asokore in the Ashanti Region died. She was to be followed by Mr. JB Da Rocha, a founding father and ex-National Chairman of the NPP. The MP for Atiwa in the Eastern Region, Kwasi Annoh Ankamah, also passed away sadly. She was followed by Madam Doris Seidu who was the MP for Chereponi Constituency of the Northern Region. A fortnight ago, a false rumour of the death of President Mills, apparently designed and stoked by NPP elements, like a wild fire raged through the length and breadth of the country, sparking a tumultuous jubilation in Kumasi and in Accra, where small house parties were held among NPP bigwigs. This time again, death unexpectedly struck another NPP big wig, the MP for Kwabre West, Mr. Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah. The ex-Judicial Secretary was reported to have passed away at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, last Friday at dawn after a short illness. He was also a former Ashanti Regional Minister; he left behind a wife and five children. The late Owusu-Ansah, who hails from Bonso in the Ashanti Region, was 73 and a lawyer by profession. Before, Owusu-Ansah�s demise, one George Best, a known NPP, serial caller also passed on within the same week. Could this be a reminder to us, especially those in the NPP that our forefathers have very good reasons for not jubilating at the news of the death of anybody, not even one�s enemy? Meanwhile President Mills returned home yesterday after a successful medical check up in the United States of America. Staff and management of The Herald sincerely extend their condolence to the family of the late Owus-Ansah; may his soul rest in perfect peace.